Jack Vincent Smith

Services are this afternoon for Jack Vincent Smith, who died Wednesday after a lengthy illness. He was born in Houston, Texas on March 24, 1924 to John Emmett Smith and Myrtle Marie Grassman Smith. After graduation from John H. Reagan High School, he enrolled at Texas A & M University. College attendance was interrupted by World War II. Jack joined the United States Navy and served as a gunnery mate on a destroyer, the U.S.S. Rowe. He served in the Pacific Theater from Alaska to the southern Pacific islands. When the war ended he returned to college. He met Bernardine Hooper of Houston and was thunderstruck. He wooed her until they married on June 13, 1947. They lived in College Station, Texas until Jack's graduation from the Texas A & M School of Architecture in 1949. After graduation, they moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, so Jack could begin work for Davidson Sash and Door, a building materials company. When he advanced to Outside Sales, his travels throughout all of the towns in southwest Louisiana gave him the opportunity to make countless friends he retained throughout his life. He was not born of the blood of the Acadians, but he became a Cajun, nonetheless. While in Lake Charles, Jack and Bernie had four children: their son, Jay, and their daughters, Jan, Jerry, and Jody. When his children started school at Barbe Elementary, Jack joined the PTA and eventually served as President. Jack was transferred to Lafayette to become the Branch Manager of Davidson's in 1959. The family joined Asbury Methodist Church, where Jack served in a variety positions including the Church Administrative Board. Jack joined Oakbourne Country Club. He was the Charter Chairman of the committee that brought the first PGA Golf tournament to Lafayette. In his later years, he served the membership as the Bingo caller. He was a Charter member of the Acadiana Homebuilders Association. His work for the local, state and national organizations lead to a seat of the Advisory Board of the Armstrong Corporation. He was an avid supporter of the local chapter of the Texas A&M Former Students Association and was a driving force behind the Chapter's establishment of a Scholarship for Architecture students at USL and organizing the annual bus trips to see the A&M /LSU football game. He was promoted to Vice President of Marketing for Davidson's. He created sales campaigns and incentive trips for lumber dealers. This resulted in Jack conducting groups of clients to exotic places in the Caribbean, Europe, and South America. When he retired in the 1980s, Jack had been employed by the same company, Davidson Sash and Door of Louisiana his entire career. Jack's Mardi Gras involvement began with membership in the Krewe of Gabriel. For more than 20 years, he was a float rider in the King's Parade. He was an Honor Duke in the 1968 Ball. He was a member of the Krewe of Zeus, and the Krewe of Triton, where he was a Duke in 1989. Jack was a Charter member of the Mystic Krewe of the Renaissance. He reigned as King Lorenzo De Medici V in 2000. He was honored as a Duke by the Krewe of the Attakapas. When Jack performed in his first stage production, it was in 'Plaza Suite' at the Lafayette Little Theatre in 1971. He went on to parts in 'You Can't Take It with You', 'The Circle', and many other plays and was honored with several Best Actor Awards. Subsequently, he became a Charter member of the USL Opera Guild and had roles in many productions, including 'Showboat', 'Guys and Dolls', 'Cabaret'. He was the perfect 'Horace Vandergelder' in 'Hello Dolly'. He directed and produced a play written Neville Breaux of Lafayette, whose roles were filled by the members of a Head Injuries Group. Their final performance was in Washington, D.C in the original Senate chambers at the invitation of Congressman Jimmy Hayes. His later roles in Abbey Player productions were over a wide range of characters in plays like 'Working' and 'The Picture Show on Magdelaen Square'. They were still award winning performances; a favorite was Vinnie, the caterer, in 'Tony and Tina's Wedding'. Jack served the community in a number of other organizations including the Exchange Service Club, the Lafayette Parish Planning Commission, The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the Faith House's Queen Feast, and The Bishop's Charity Ball. Jack Smith was an amazing man of many talents. His strongest talent was his ability to connect with people. Whether he was entertaining them with some joke or tale, ribald or not, performing in a theatrical production, or teaching himself sign language at the age of 70, so that he could teach a Sunday school class of handicapped folks, he connected. And he was funny. His lengthy repertoire of jokes was legendary among those that knew him. Always with a buoyant spirit, always with the highest of ethics and personal responsibility, he moved through life for 86 years in a variety of adventures. Jack was artistic and creative. He was passionate and patriotic. He was a Texas Aggie. He was the most supportive parent a child could ask for, always encouraging, always proud. Jack was devoted to Bernardine, his first love, for 51 years. He nursed her through years of illness until her death 1998. And he was devoted to his second love, Dorothy Parson, for the last 11 years of his life. His death will leave the world more somber and a bit dimmer, but the laughter will remain in the hearts of those that knew him. He was well loved. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his two sisters and their husbands, Margaret and Frank Whalen of Baytown and Maxine and Harold Nicholson of Houston, and a brother, John Emmett Smith, Jr.. He is survived by his loving companion, Dorothy Parson, his children, Jay Vincent Smith, Jan Allison Smith Ferrell, Jerry Lee Smith-Guidry, and Jody Elayne Smith Karl, his daughter-in-law, Debi Smith (Jay), his sons-in-law, Kenneth Ferrell (Jan) and Robert Guidry (Jerry), his seven grandchildren and their spouses, Jaci Smith Russo and Micheal, Jarod Vincent Smith and Jaime, Janis Smith Bourriague and Rene, Jennifer Ferrell Ete' and Papaloa, David Ferrell and Christi, Rebecca Ferrell, and Jacob Ferrell, his nineteen great grandchildren, Jackson Russo, Jordan Russo, Maggie Russo, Molly Russo, Dakoda Smith, Keira Smith, Jaidan Smith, JulesAnn Abadie, Jonathan Abadie, Hana Ete, Susana Ete, Se'epa Ete, Hana Ete, Connor Ete, Nick Ete, Ian Ete, Kalin Ferrell, Kylie Ferrell, and Hunter Ferrell, and his extended Houston family: his brother in law, Floyd B. Delafosse and sister in law, Geraldine Hopper Morris, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be in the Fellowship Hall of Asbury Methodist Church at the corner of Johnston St. and Live Oak Blvd from noon until time of services. The Celebration of a Life Memorial Service will be held in the Asbury Sanctuary at 2pm. It will be a time of remembrance and laughter. Flowers are welcome or, in lieu of flowers, donation can be made to The Nook at Asbury Methodist Church or The Texas A & M Foundation or to the 12th Man Club. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Jack Vincent Smith

March 24, 1924 - April 21, 2010